PDFWAC 296-850-180

Appendix AControl strategies to minimize beryllium exposure of this standard is nonmandatory.

WAC 296-850-130(2) of this chapter requires employers to use one or more of the control methods listed in WAC 296-850-130(2) to minimize worker exposure in each operation in a beryllium work area, unless the operation is exempt under WAC 296-850-130 (2)(b). This appendix sets forth a nonexhaustive list of control options that employers could use to comply with WAC 296-850-130(2) for a number of specific beryllium operations.
Table A.1: Exposure Control Recommendations
Operation
Minimal Control Strategy*
Application Group
Beryllium Oxide Forming (e.g., pressing, extruding)
For pressing operations:
(1) Install local exhaust ventilation (LEV) on oxide press tables, oxide feed drum breaks, press tumblers, powder rollers, and die set disassembly stations;
(2) Enclose the oxide presses; and
(3) Install mechanical ventilation (make-up air) in processing areas.
For extruding operations:
(1) Install LEV on extruder powder loading hoods, oxide supply bottles, rod breaking operations, centerless grinders, rod laydown tables, dicing operations, surface grinders, discharge end of extrusion presses;
(2) Enclose the centerless grinders; and
(3) Install mechanical ventilation (make-up air) in processing areas.
Primary Beryllium Production; Beryllium Oxide Ceramics and Composites
Chemical Processing Operations (e.g., leaching, pickling, degreasing, etching, plating)
For medium and high gassing operations:
(1) Perform operation with a hood having a maximum of one open side; and
(2) Design process so as to minimize spills; if accidental spills occur, perform immediate cleanup.
Primary Beryllium Production; Beryllium Oxide Ceramics and Composites; Copper Rolling, Drawing and Extruding
Finishing (e.g., grinding, sanding, polishing, deburring)
(1) Perform portable finishing operations in a ventilated hood. The hood should include both downdraft and backdraft ventilation, and have at least two sides and a top.
(2) Perform stationary finishing operations using a ventilated and enclosed hood at the point of operation. The grinding wheel of the stationary unit should be enclosed and ventilated.
Secondary Smelting; Fabrication of Beryllium Alloy Products; Dental Labs
Furnace Operations (e.g., Melting and Casting)
(1) Use LEV on furnaces, pelletizer; arc furnace ingot machine discharge; pellet sampling; arc furnace bins and conveyors; beryllium hydroxide drum dumper and dryer; furnace rebuilding; furnace tool holders; arc furnace tundish and tundish skimming, tundish preheat hood, and tundish cleaning hoods; dross handling equipment and drums; dross recycling; and tool repair station, charge make-up station, oxide screener, product sampling locations, drum changing stations, and drum cleaning stations.
(2) Use mechanical ventilation (make-up air) in furnace building.
Primary Beryllium Production; Beryllium Oxide Ceramics and Composites; Nonferrous Foundries; Secondary Smelting
Machining
Use: (1) LEV consistent with ACGIH® ventilation guidelines on deburring hoods, wet surface grinder enclosures, belt sanding hoods, and electrical discharge machines (for operations such as polishing, lapping, and buffing);
(2) High velocity low volume hoods or ventilated enclosures on lathes, vertical mills, CNC mills, and tool grinding operations;
(3) For beryllium oxide ceramics, LEV on lapping, dicing, and laser cutting; and
(4) Wet methods (e.g., coolants).
Primary Beryllium Production; Beryllium Oxide Ceramics and Composites; Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding; Precision Turned Products
Mechanical Processing (e.g., material handling (including scrap), sorting, crushing, screening, pulverizing, shredding, pouring, mixing, blending)
(1) Enclose and ventilate sources of emission;
(2) Prohibit open handling of materials; and
(3) Use mechanical ventilation (make-up air) in processing areas.
Primary Beryllium Production; Beryllium Oxide Ceramics and Composites; Aluminum and Copper Foundries; Secondary Smelting
Metal Forming (e.g., rolling, drawing, straightening, annealing, extruding)
(1) For rolling operations, install LEV on mill stands and reels such that a hood extends the length of the mill;
(2) For point and chamfer operations, install LEV hoods at both ends of the rod;
(3) For annealing operations, provide an inert atmosphere for annealing furnaces, and LEV hoods at entry and exit points;
(4) For swaging operations, install LEV on the cutting head;
(5) For drawing, straightening, and extruding operations, install LEV at entry and exit points; and
(6) For all metal forming operations, install mechanical ventilation (make-up air) for processing areas.
Primary Beryllium Production; Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding; Fabrication of Beryllium Alloy Products
Welding
For fixed welding operations:
(1) Enclose work locations around the source of fume generation and use local exhaust ventilation; and
(2) Install close capture hood enclosure designed so as to minimize fume emission from the enclosure welding operation.
For manual operations:
(1) Use portable local exhaust and general ventilation.
Primary Beryllium Production; Fabrication of Beryllium Alloy Products; Welding
*
All LEV specifications should be in accordance with the ACGIH® Publication No. 2094, "Industrial Ventilation – A Manual of Recommended Practice" wherever applicable.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 18-17-156, § 296-850-180, filed 8/21/18, effective 12/12/18.]